Whilst investigating the death of a local candy maker, a young gardener called Timothy Johnson uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, rusty manacles circulating throughout Thrornlope. As soon as anyone activates the manacles, he or she has exactly 6 days left to live in attempt to break the curse and its effects.

When 6 days are up, the doomed few appear as ordinary people during everyday life. But when photographed, they appear zombified and are shackled; forced to wear phantom chains resembling the cursed manacles for all eternity. A marked person feels like taxidermy animal to the touch; firm, ice cold and slightly fuzzy.

Timothy gets hold of the manacles, refusing to believe the superstition, and activates the trap. A collage of images flash into his mind; a tiny ginger reindeer balancing on top of the candy makers’ head, an old newspaper headline from December about an unfortunate accident, a hooded figure in red ranting about fingernails and a drinking well located on an old abandoned hill.

When Timothy notices his feet have crocodile-like properties, he realises that the curse of the rusty manacles is true and called his mentor and friend Andy Barlow, to help.

Andy examines the cuffs for a short time, and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions his friend experiences flashes before his eyes. He finds the tiny ginger reindeer balancing on the disheveled candy maker’s rotting head, particularly chilling. Andy Barlow joins the queue for a supernatural death just as his friend did.

Timothy and Andy pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded figure in red. Will they be able to stop the curse within 6 days, before their time is up?